Children's Miracle Network Oklahoma Champion Child Jake's Sendoff March 3, 2009

Children’s Miracle Network has named Miracle Child Jake as the Champion Across America for Oklahoma.

Jake, who was diagnosed with diabetes insipidus, will join other child ambassadors from every state as part of the Children’s Miracle Network program, Champions Across America presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club. The program brings attention to the important work being done at children’s hospitals by honoring remarkable children like Jake who have triumphed despite severe medical challenges.

At the age of six, Jacob Stoepker was diagnosed with diabetes insipidus, a condition in which the kidneys do not conserve water. Sixteen months later, Jake’s mom took him to have his eyesight checked, and found that he was blind in his left eye and had lost some vision in his right. Jake was immediately sent to Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center where he was diagnosed with a non-germinoma germ cell tumor: a very rare brain tumor and form of cancer in children. He was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism and optic nerve damage. All of his chemotherapy treatments were done in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and quickly became the patient that everyone wanted to take care of because of his vibrant attitude and fun loving personality. Jake is now 12 years old and he has been cancer free for three years.

Jake and his fellow champions will travel for one week – first to Florida for the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration event at Walt Disney World Resort and then to Washington D.C. Jake will visit Capitol Hill to share his story of medical victory, representing the 17 million children treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals each year throughout the United States.

Since 1987, Children’s Miracle Network and Walmart have worked together to help children by raising money for children’s hospitals. Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members have raised and contributed more than $460 million for children’s hospitals, with more than $4,441,000 benefiting Children’s Miracle Network hospitals in Oklahoma.